Insurance Claim

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What is 'Insurance Claim'

An insurance claim is a formal request to an insurance company for coverage or compensation for a covered loss or policy event. The insurance company validates the claim and, once approved, issues payment to the insured or an approved interested party on behalf of the insured.

Insurance claims cover everything from death benefits on life insurance policies to routine and comprehensive medical exams. In many cases, third-parties file claims on behalf of the insured person, but usually only the person(s) listed on the policy is entitled to claim payments.

BREAKING DOWN 'Insurance Claim'

A paid insurance claim serves to indemnify a policyholder against financial loss. An individual or group pays premiums as consideration for completion of an insurance contract between the insured party and an insurance carrier. The most common insurance claims involve costs for medical goods and services, physical damage and liability resulting from the operation of automobiles, property damage and liability for dwellings (homeowners, landlords, and renters), and the loss of life.

Health Insurance Claims

Costs for a surgical procedures or inpatient hospital stays remain prohibitively expensive. In 2014, the US average cost for a one-day hospital stay was $2,212. Individual or group health policies indemnify patients against financial burdens that may otherwise cause crippling financial damage. Health insurance claims filed with carriers by providers on behalf of policyholders require little effort from patients; 94% of medical claims were adjudicated electronically in 2011, a 19% increase from 2006. Policyholders must file paper claims when medical providers do not participate in electronic transmittals but charges result from rendered covered services. Ultimately, an insurance claim protects an individual from the prospect of large financial burdens resulting from an accident or illness.

Property and Casualty Claims

A house is typically one of the largest assets an individual will purchase in his/her lifetime. A claim filed for damage from covered perils is initially routed via phone or the internet to a representative of an insurer, commonly referred to as an agent or claims adjuster. Unlike health insurance claims, the onus is on the policyholder to report damage of a deeded property he owns. An adjuster, depending on the type of claim, inspects and assesses damage to property for payment to the insured. Upon verification of the damage, the adjuster initiates the process of compensating or reimbursing the insured.

Life Insurance Claims

Life insurance claims require the submission of a claim form, a death certificate, and oftentimes the original policy. The process, especially for large face value policies, may require in-depth examination by the carrier to ensure that the death of the insured did not fall under a contract exclusion, such as suicide (usually excluded for the first few years after policy inception) or death resulting from a criminal act. Generally, the process takes approximately 30 to 60 days without extenuating circumstances, affording beneficiaries the financial wherewithal to replace the income of the deceased or simply cover the burden of final expenses.